D&D (2024) D&D species article

[Remathilis]

Beginning to think the reason why goblins and hobgoblins are not in the PHB is because they couldn't figure out a good way to "Magic them up" or give them spells.

Even Orcs got magiced up. Bulk and dash as a bonus action. Nope. Gotta make it give THP so it's mystical and limited.

I don't think you've looked at the "hobgoblin gifts" in MotM recently...

 

[Minigiant]

I don't think you've looked at the "hobgoblin gifts" in MotM recently...

I own the book.

I don't think the MOTM hobgoblin was general, historical, and unique enough for the PHB. They'd have to think of a new magic for them as well as regular goblins.

The shift from the "every race is non-magical or have very minor magical traits" old school to the "every race has their own inherit unique form of magic in there biology" old school was not a smooth one.

 

[Scribe]

The shift from the "every race is non-magical or have very minor magical traits" old school to the "every race has their own inherit unique form of magic in there biology" old school was not a smooth one.

I think I would be a lot less annoyed if they had any kind of consistency. Just looking over the last several books with species options (they couldnt even get a name consistently...) is just an exercise in reading tea leaves. There is no commitment, no plan, no consistency, no conviction. Its 'what way is the wind blowing' design, and its just poor.

 

[Hriston]

My character was described as non-proficient in Dwarven or fighting with a hammer or any of the tool proficiencies. Agreed?

No, this is what you described:

a skinny, nerdy dwarf who just wanted to study magic and didn't automatically know how to use a hammer while speaking a genetically imbued language.

If it says "proficient in Dwarven" on the PC's character sheet, but the PC never speaks Dwarven in the game, then the PC is not speaking Dwarven. If it says "proficient with light hammers and warhammers" on the PC's character sheet, but the PC never wields one of those weapons in the game, then how has it been established the PC knows how to use them?

The rules require otherwise, as you’ve acknowledged. Therefore, the rules prevent me from building the character I described.

Again, this is false. Nothing in the rules prevents you from building the character you described.

This is not arguable and I’m done explaining it - either you will never follow or you’re just being stubborn.

I believe I'm following you just fine. You just have a narrow view about what's possible for some reason.

Obviously, I could choose not to use those proficiencies, just as I could choose to play a wizard and never cast a spell.

However, that would be kind of silly. And I think you understand my broader point and are just being difficult for some reason.

The game gives players lots of options. There's no requirement to use all of them.

I doubt it. You just seem to refuse to acknowledge that the rules require “dwarf” to include various stereotypes regardless of what the player wants. Fortunately, the new rules get rid of a lot of that.

I don't know what you mean by "require". The 2014 rules make it possible to play a stereotypical dwarf. They don't force you to.

 

[Azzy]

The elf complaints make 0 sense.

In 2014, High Elves got a single cantrip and training in four weapons. In 2024, they keep the cantrip and instead of weapons they basically never used they get two of the best spells in the game (Detect Magic and Misty Step).

In 2014, Wood Elves got the same four weapons and the CHANCE to hide in light cover, not any stealth proficiency or bonus to hiding. Just a chance to try and hide. In 2024, they instead get maybe the best out of combat 2nd level spell (Pass without Trace) that makes hiding even easier for them.

They are just straight better in every way. No one was making use of random race weapon proficiency and no one picked Wood Elf for Mask of the Wild. WotC has taken near useless features and replaced them with powerful and thematic spells that still fill the lineages niche while actually being useful. How is this in any way a bad thing?

Hi! I'm no one.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Before, you played a “typical” version of a dwarf or elf and modern players hated that. So to fix it you remove most things that made a “race” unique. Boring, but no longer typical. I guess.

Modern D&D is much much MUCH more about class now anyways. Which comes off as flavorless with all its flavor.

“When everyone is special blah blah blah”

People unironically quoting villains to support their argument always amuses me. And the flavour and diversity has only improved since Gygax left D&D and let a succession of others each add what they thought was cool, not beholden to him. And damn right modern D&D is more about your class (what you do) than your race, your stat rolls, and your genetics.

The main thing old school D&D had going for it in terms of flavour is that when your character was a walking christmas tree of loot you found it made your experiences of play much more relevant.

 

[Azzy]

For ten years, this design team has not really been interested in races/species -- it has always felt like an afterthought, and it has never been well implemented.

To be fair, that's been true of most editions.

 

[Tonguez]

I haven't caught up on the thread yet, but there is a really simple reason why the dragonborn wings are spectral and made out of energy.

Because DnD players are pendants who can never let a small detail pass without making a huge deal about it.

The immediate thing that would happen as soon as a Dragonborn Fighter attempted to grow their wings? "Well, what about your armor?" So then every single dragonborn would need to have specialized armor built to allow for their wings, which would mean that any armor not modified would lock their flight ability, or if an enemy tied them up with ropes they wouldn't be able to sprout their wings, or if they... and on and on it would go.

So, the wings are made of energy. They allow the dragonborn to fly while ignoring things like clothes and armor. Because to do otherwise, DnD players would make a mountain out of the inconsistent little molehill.

I've never heard this argument raised about Aarakocra though, so if they can be winged why not Dragonfolk

 

[Corinnguard]

For ten years, this design team has not really been interested in races/species -- it has always felt like an afterthought, and it has never been well implemented.

Whereas EN Publishing's design team for Level Up has shown more interest by splitting up race/species into Heritage and Culture.

 

[Remathilis]

I think I would be a lot less annoyed if they had any kind of consistency. Just looking over the last several books with species options (they couldnt even get a name consistently...) is just an exercise in reading tea leaves. There is no commitment, no plan, no consistency, no conviction. Its 'what way is the wind blowing' design, and its just poor.

Unfortunately, I kinda agree.

Setting aside ASI for a minute, they have cut off their nose to spite their face by making proficiencies (be it in skills, tools, weapons, armor, or languages) verboten in species design. It limits giving flavorful abilities that represent natural aptitude and ability (be it a goliaths natural athleticism, an elves keen senses, or a tabaxi's natural stealth). So all they have left are biological abilities (wings, gills, claws or hide) and magical ones (spells and supernatural abilities) to define species with. They still slipped a few skill proficiencies into MotM, but it seems that is going by the wayside in the PHB. Which means I suspect many MotM and later races will be getting redone eventually to remove those vestigial proficiencies as well.